Protecting box or casing.



H. W. CLARK. PROTECTING BOX 0R OASIIG. APPLICATION FILED M1116, 1911.

1,002,501, Patened Sept. 5, 19H.

ma. M .g wu. Mw i nivirEn srATEs PATENT oEEicE.

HORACE W. CLARK, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS PROTEGTING BOX OR CASINu.

`To all whom' 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE WV. CLARK, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Mattoon, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usetul Improvements in Protecting Boxes or Casings, of which the following is a true p specification.

My invention is an improvement in boxes or casings for housing water meters, meters and the like where placed below the ground or in'open or exposed places.

The invention relates particularly to an improvement in the lid of the said box and the peculiar mechanism whereby the casing is readil/v adjusted with reference to the surface of the ground.

My construction is herein described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Figure l representsa sectional clevation view ot' my device taken through line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view ot my cover with lock taken from the underside of the cover. Fig. 3 is a detail oit the casing as shown in Fig. l.

More particularly described, A represents the upper section of my casing which is intended to telescope upon the lower section B and these sections are preferably cylindrical in form and are constructed of metal or concrete or other suitable material.

a a represent flanges attached to the bottom of upper section A and are constructed witha pitch and are intended to raise or lower the section A when embedded in the earth by rotation by means of a lever inser-ted within the hole L2 in the side of the section A. r

Upon the inner `tace et the section A is constructed a, rack a and vupon the upper and outer edge of the section I3 is con-- structed a lug so adapted as to engage rack a. A plurality oit these racks may be used iit desired. .lt designed that when the section I3 is placed within the recess in the ground intended to receive the casing that the section A may be telescoped thereupon to such a depth as may be desired andthe rack a be turned into engagement with the lug I) for the purpose of holding the upper section A in position until the earth saall have been packed around it. In ease it is desirable laterto changeth"l height of sec tion A. bv use of a lever inserted at a2 the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 16, 1911.

Patented Sept. 5, 1911. serial No., 603,026.

section A may be turned out of engagement with the lug b and raised or lowered by the operation of the flanges a a as hereinbefore described.

C represents the cover of my casing which is fitted on its inner face with an apron c* and the said cover is designed to rest upon the shelf a3 lying Within the top of the upper section A.

c c represent spring bars which are attached at one end to pins c2 c2 fitted to the cover C and at the outer edge project through vsuitable apertures in the apron c" and engage the under face of the shelf c3 for the purpose of locking the cover in' po sition. The spring bars c c are actuated by a key K itted with engaging arms 7c 7c and its shank 7u fitted with a collar 7a2 intended to hold the key K in position after it is passed through the aperture 7c3 in the said cover C.

In operation, by a quarter turn of' the key K inserted within the aperture 7c3 the engaging arms c it force the spring bars c c out of engagement with the shelt' a3 as shown by the dot-ted lines in Fig. 2, thereby releasing the cover trom the casing and by reverse movement the spring bars c c are allowed to spring beck into their original position and lock the cover on the casing.

D represents a meter oit any suitable form placed within my casing.

It is not intended in this invention to eon- 'ine 'myself in operation to the particular form of spring bars as described herein or to the number of two as shown herein. Any number of bars or any orm of 'bars which can be operated by a key in one operatidi may be used within the intent of my invention.

llVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In combination with a protecting box for water meters and the like and cover therefor, a lock consisting of a shelf formed on the inner face of said box, parallel spring bars attached at op posite ends of the under tace ot said cover, the other ends being adapted to engage with the said shelf at points on opposite sides of the said box and means for forcing said spring bars out of engagement with said shelf.

. 2. In a protecting box forwater meters and the like, Ithe combination With a. casing fitted on its upper and inner face with a shelf, of a cover consisting of a pla-te of form and size to sit within the mouth of Mprrf. l

lrhe seid casing and rest upon the seid shelf- ;thereofran apron fitted on the inner face of seid cover, spring bers lying prallel with `VVVxivch other upon the innel1 faee of said cover 'und secured' at'o'e and opposite ends to the said cover,the other and opposite ends pass- ',ing through suitable apertures in the said apron and engaging en epposite Sides ef the said easing with theunder face of the said Shelf und alejy'de'sig11ed to withdraw the said .spring bars from said engagement.

. 1 'In a protecting bex for water nier-ers and thel liketlie combination with a Casing provided on its? Vupper` and inner" surface wiih a; sl1el`f, of. e. Cover and lock therefor,

consisting `of e plate designed lso'rest within the/month of said casing and upon which thesaid plate is designed to rest, an apron oued upen the inner.4 face of said plate, u `sprl-ng bar attached nt one end to the inner face of the said plate and at its other end. 

